Arsenal monitor Dacourt
Arsene Wenger could turn to Olivier Dacourt as a replacement for Patrick Vieira.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger could turn to Olivier Dacourt as he seeks a replacement for Patrick Vieira.
The Roma midfielder is well known to the Gunners chief and already has Premiership experience from spells with Everton and Leeds United.
Although he is under contract until 2006, it is believed that Arsenal have already made their intentions clear and are exploring the possibility of landing the France international.
Wenger, always shrewd in the transfer market, is aware that he might even be able to push Roma into releasing Dacourt on a free transfer due to their financial problems as the Serie A outfit may want to get him off their wage bill.
Indeed, Roma strongly considered approaches from Bolton Wanderers and Fulham recently, only for the player to refuse the opportunity to take up those options.
Other clubs are monitoring Dacourt's situation, possibly even Barcelona, but the chance to play at Highbury would be an enticing one for the 31-year-old.
He would be an ideal no-risk replacement for Vieira, who signed for Juventus recently.
One potential stumbling block is the transfer embargo currently imposed on Roma but the Stadio Olimpico outfit are hopeful of getting the ban overturned.
Wenger is continuing to run the rule over trialists Philippe Christanval and Alexandre Song but will wait until the end of the pre-season tour of Austria before making a decision on the pair.
